It’s not vanity,
but necessity
still rest, sleep
much needed, yet elusive
I may as well be chasing the wind

The mental to-do list
long and loud
echoing in my head
the musts
the shoulds
and the dreaded oughts
all competing with dreams for my attention
and as for sleep
I may as well be chasing the wind.

Nothing on this list
can I do in the dark
in the night
in my bed
and yet they tempt and try
to hijack my energy
and prevent sleep
much needed, yet elusive
I may as well be chasing the wind.